Beckham announces retirement

Thursday

May 16, 2013 at 9:04 PMMay 16, 2013 at 9:21 PM

David Beckham is retiring from soccer, ending a career in which he transcended the sport.

By ROB HARRISAssociated Press

LONDON — David Beckham is retiring from soccer, ending a career in which he transcended the sport with forays into fashion and a marriage to a pop star that made him a global celebrity.The 38-year-old former England captain, who recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain, said Thursday he will retire after the season.“It's a good way to go out,” Beckham said in Paris. “It's every athlete's dream, every footballer's dream to go out on the top — on top form or winning a trophy ... leaving as a champion.”Beckham has two more matches left at PSG against Brest on Saturday and at Lorient on May 26.Asked what led to his decision, Beckham replied with a laugh: “Probably when (Lionel) Messi was running past me in that home game,” referring to PSG's Champions League match against Barcelona last month.Beckham started his career with Manchester United and also played for Real Madrid and the Los Angeles Galaxy, winning titles with all those clubs and also making a record 115 international appearances for an England outfield player.FIFA President Sepp Blatter described the midfielder as “one of the most iconic figures in global football.” Beckham's fame went beyond the field, with his haircuts and clothing scrutinized as often as his play, earning him a string of lucrative sponsorship deals.Beckham even was immortalized on the silver screen in the 2002 film “Bend it Like Beckham,” which told the story of a British teenage girl of south Asian heritage struggling with family pressures and cultural expectations to play the sport she loves.Beckham's retirement led to a flood of tweets dubbing the day “End it Like Beckham.”“If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over one hundred times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy,” said Beckham, who also played on loan at AC Milan. “I'm fortunate to have realized those dreams.”It was his appearances with England's national team that raised his profile internationally.“To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country,” Beckham said. “I knew every time I wore the Three Lions shirt, I was not only following in a long line of great players. I was also representing every fan that cared passionately about their country.“I'm honored to represent England both on and off the pitch.”Beckham is now living in London with his wife Victoria, a former “Spice Girls” singer, and their four children.“I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family. I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realize my dreams,” he said. “I owe everything to Victoria and the kids, who have given me the inspiration and support to play at the highest level for such a long period.”Victoria Beckham said the couple is “excited about the next chapter in our lives.”With United between 1992 and 2003, Beckham won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the Intercontinental Cup.Beckham left United in 2003 shortly after manager Alex Ferguson accidentally struck Beckham's eye with a football boot.Beckham spent four years in Madrid — winning the 2007 Spanish title before making the surprise move to Major League Soccer with the Galaxy, where he won the title twice.“I just want people to see me as a hardworking footballer,” Beckham said. “Someone who is passionate about the game.”Beckham already had started planning for his post-playing career earlier in the season, becoming an ambassador for Chinese football.“Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love, however I feel like I'm starting a new adventure and I'm genuinely excited about what lies ahead,” Beckham said. “I'm fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back.”Beckham played a key role in helping London win the bid to host the 2012 Olympics. He also was involved in England's unsuccessful bid to host the 2018 World Cup, and the English Football Association wants to utilize his influence.“He is an iconic figure in the game and produced wonderful performances for his clubs, particularly Manchester United,” FA chairman David Bernstein said. “When you look at his playing and work for England, no one would ever accuse him of being unpatriotic and not giving everything for his country.“He is a real loss to the game and I am sure the FA will want to embrace him and to get him closely associated with the organization.”Beckham's retirement comes a week after the 71-year-old Ferguson ended his managerial career.“In the week following Sir Alex Ferguson retiring, which came as a bit of a shock, now we have the iconic David Beckham coming out of the game,” Bernstein said.

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